Thistle is a plant of open sunlit areas, and is common around river banks and rocky ground. It resembles a common garden weed in appearance, usually with a bunch of spear-shaped leaves at ground level, and tall thin stems to 60 cm high bearing small flower pods. The leaves have an "eaten" appearance, with soft prickles around the edges.

The entire plant, including the root system, can be boiled and eaten as greens. It can also be eaten raw, and has a crisp lettuce like taste. As a bush medicine, thistle leaves were boiled in water, and the liquid . . .